Towson Men’s and Women’s Basketball to Open Tiger Arena with Doubleheader Against NavyThe Inaugural Games in Tiger Arena Will Take Place on November 8

TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University men’s and women’s basketball teams will open Tiger Arena with a doubleheader against the United States Naval Academy on Nov. 8, 2013, it was announced by Director of Athletics Mike Waddell today.

“Opening our new arena with a doubleheader against the United States Naval Academy will be a great night for Towson University and college basketball in Baltimore and the State of Maryland,” said Waddell. “To have 5,200 plus fans on our campus experiencing all that our game atmosphere will be in the newest arena on the East Coast will be a happening that will launch a new era in Tiger Basketball. This venue will be a showplace for the Black and Gold and also for other basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and community events year round.”

Tip times for both games are still to be determined along with the rest of the Tiger men’s and women’s basketball schedules, in the fall.

“We’re excited to welcome the Naval Academy for the first basketball games to be played inside Tiger Arena,” said Towson men’s basketball head coach Pat Skerry. “Navy is a quality opponent and we are happy to be playing a team from the state of Maryland in our first game. The atmosphere should be electric as our fans will have their first chance to step in to the nicest arena in the Mid-Atlantic.”

“What a tremendous way to begin a new era of Towson basketball,” said Towson women’s basketball head coach Joe Mathews. “I cannot think of a more exciting and relevant way to open Tiger Arena. The opportunity to celebrate by watching a doubleheader featuring both women’s and men’s programs as we take a major step to the future is significant, but to add the United States Naval Academy as the opponent turns it into major event. This is a great way to launch a new beginning as well as way to pay tribute to and thank the military across the world that provide us the freedoms such as this event to enjoy.“

Tiger Arena is a state-of-the-art, high-tech venue that will also serve as the home for Towson gymnastics and volleyball. The venue will feature approximately four premium mezzanine level private suites, approximately 340 premium loge club seats around the top of the lower bowl, and 120 courtside seats.

Additional amenities include a 1500 sq. ft. hospitality room, and a 680 sq. ft. multipurpose room on the mezzanine on the concourse level. A new state of the art multimedia studio will also be constructed that will be the nerve center of all TIGERVISION operations for both the Arena and Johnny Unitas® Stadium.

“This event begins it all in style on college basketball’s “first night” and will bookend when both Towson teams play their 2014 CAA Tournaments in Maryland,” said Waddell. “The state will be the host of both CAA post-season tournaments, with the women at the Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro and the men at the first-ever CAA Tournament downtown at First Mariner Arena in March of 2014.”